NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2044, 11 September 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

“New Zealand Country Journal.”— The September number of this publication has been issued, and, as on former occasions, is fully up to the standard. The piece de resistance is a notice of the curriculum and a paper descriptive of the School of Agriculture at Lincoln, an illustration of which by the photolithographic process is given. A paper by Mr Qrigg on the subject of the payable character or otherwiss of farming in New Zealand comes next. Mr Potts’ chatty and highly interesting series of papers, under the title of “Out in the Open,” are continued. This month it comprises some tersely written and highly instructive notes on rare or little known birds. The sporting, ns usual, under the able superintendence of “ Oavesson,” is thoroughly exhaustive of the doings of the month in all departments of sport, Mr Gray continues his very instructive paper on the “ Chemistry of Manures.” The agricultural statistics of 1880, the usual farming and garden notes, commercial reports, &3., make up a very excellent number. Masonic.—A new lodge, the St. Clair, Kilwinning, 5.0., F. and A.M., was established yesterday at the Head of the Bay. The Rev. J. Hill, P.M., assisted by Bro. A. Taylor, P.M., officiated at T he opening. The officers appointed wore—Br~s. W. Graham, W.M. ; A. Taylor, DM. ; Rev. Hill, B.M. ; D. Geb'oie, S.W. ; M. Melburn, J.W. ; G. Mansen, 8 D. ; W. Smith, J.D. ; McKenzie, J.G. ; Sinclair, O G.' The W.M’s of Lodge Unanimity, Lyttelton; Conyers, of Sydenham; and Robert Burns, of Christchurch, and a number of the brethren were present to witness the consecration. Three candidates were initiated, the lodge adjourning for refreshment to the Whoat-heaf Hotel, where an excellent spread was prepared. The consecration took place in the schoolroom, where the meetings, it is proposed, will bo held.

Children’ Party. —Last evening one of the pleasantest gatherings that has taken place for some time in Christchurch was held in the Gaiety. Mr W. F. Warner, ably assisted by a committee of ladies, organised a childrens’ ball, which took place in the theatre. Nearly one hundred little guests were present, and everything was done for their comfort and amusement. At the close of tho dancing Mr Hulbert in a few well-chosen words proposed a vote of thanks to tho ladies and Mr Warner, who had given the little people so enjoyable an evening, which was carried by acclamation.

The Man of Wae.—The man-of-war now in Port, H.M. ship Danae, is to be open to the public to-morrow. The steam launch Lyttelton is advertised to make trips to her from the boat jetty, to make her first trip at mid-day. Lyttelton Magistrate's Court.—The only case at this Court this morning was a charge of larceny preferred against Ellen Scott, a servant girl in the employ of Mrs J. R. Ganaway. The articles taken consisted of glassware, linen-ware, &0., to the value of a few shillings. The girl admitted the charge, and, as Mr Ganaway did not wish to be severe, the Bench exorcised its discretion and discharged her with a reprimand. Christchurch Debating Society.—The meeting called for last evening to discuss the question, “ Capital and Labor as applied to the present state of trade in New Zealand,” lapsed for want of a quorum. Ambehlby.— On Wednesday night the Carandinis gave a concert in the Town Hall to an appreciative audience. On Thursday a ball, also given at the Town Hall as a wind-up of the season by the Amborley Dancing Olais, was exceedingly well patronised, between eighty and ninety persons being present. The Late Me Dalton.—Another old colonist has passed away in the person of Mr George Dalton, whose funeral takes place to-day. The deceased gentleman arrived in the ship Sir George Seymour, in 1850, and for the last twenty_ years has resided in the Springaton district. He took an active interest in the Farmers’ Club at Lincoln, and was much respected by those who came in contact with him. His loss will be felt by a large circle of friends. Ashburton Caledonian Society.—At a meeting of the above society held last Thursday evening in the Town Hall, Dr. Stewart, vice-president, in the chair, a committee was appointed to select a suitable piece of land for sports grounds in the vicinity of the town. It was also agreed to hold an entertainment in the Town Hall as soon as possible, and the following committee ' was appointed to make the necessary arrangements : —Dr. Stewart, and Messrs Dunn, Pallar, Kidd, Scott, Mcßat-, Anderson, and Elder.

Lyttelton Gaol. Yesterday Colonel Reader, accompanied by Superintendent Broham, paid an official visit to the Lyttelton Gaol, particularly with reference to the Maori prisoners. Colonel Reader expressed hie satisfaction at the condition he found the Maori division in a< regards cleanliness, &o. Over at Ripa Island the twenty-eight deportee from Parihaka are doing well under the guardianship of Sergeant Macmillan and twelve of the constabulary. It is probable that the prisoners now in the gaol will be taken over to the Island to make room for their countrymen who have committed themselves since the West Coast Native Bill came into operation. Ah Heib to OrPßua. —Count Mocenip, the head of one of the most ancient families of Venice, has put forward a somewhat novel claim, which, if recognised by the British Government, will place him in possession of vast tracts of land comprising the whole of the most highly favored and best portions of the island of Cyprus. The matter has already been the source of communication with the British Government, and the Count, since his preliminary correspondence with the authorities, has placed the affair in the hands of his London solicitors, Messrs Goldberg and Langdon. The Count bases his claim upon the fact that he is the direct lineal descendant of Catherine Oarnaro, a daughter of the then Doge of Venice, who in 1468 married Lusignan, thereby becoming Queen of Cyprus, and of Cardinal Marco Oarnaro, the original purchaser of the lands from the ancient Order of the Knights Hospitallers. The Atalanta. —The British barquentine Girl of Devon arrived at St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the 29th July, bringing with her a large white-painted figure-head, which the captain affirms to belong unmistakeably to the Atalanta. One noticeable feature about the figure-head is the evidence of great violence, either by collision with ice or with floating wreckage. The largo metal bolts which fastened it to the cut water are rudely bent and broken, indicating the application of a tremendous shook to the bows of the ship and the lower part of the figure is broken and splintered, which tends to strengthen the theory of a collision. Meteobolosicai,. The meteorological report for July, 1880, has just been gazetted It shows that the mean temperature of the air in the shade was above the average of previous years at all stations excepting Auckland, where there was a slight deficiency, although the highest temperature was recorded there, viz , 644 deg. The lowest temperature was at Christchurch, 25 deg. The rainfall was slightly above the average at Auckland, Wellington and Hokitika, but below the average at Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. The Law of Libel. —The Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Law of Libel have decided on their report, and have agreed to recommend that in future no criminal proceedings for libel should be allowed to commence without the fiat of the Attorney-General first being obtained. The committee have also recommended that fair and accurate reports of the proceedings of public meetings, published without malice, should be privileged; but they have also proposed that the plea of privilege should not be allowed as a defence to any action where the defendant has refused to insert a reasonable letter or statement in explanation or contradiction of the report. Tide Guage. —We (Southland “ Times ”) have been shown the drawing of an improved tide guage, the invention of Captain Thomas Thomson, harbor-master at the Bluff. It is a still further improvement upon the one lately erected on Rattray street jetty, Dunedin, which gave very satisfactory results, showing the swell coming in at the heads even as far up as Dunedin. The present instrument has still further improvements ; it rules upon paper the feet, hours, and tide undulations, and requires only to be supplied with clean paper to enable it to record continuously. By means of this guage a record of each tide, the height, and exact time of high water, besides every tidal undulation, can be obtained and printed upon paper for any length of time, tho time being only regulated by the extent of paper supplied to the instruments. Another improvement is that the pencil is made to act directly from the water by an arrangement worked by the difference between the specific gravity of water and quicksilver, doing away with the necessity of a differential wheel for communicating and reducing the tidal undulations.

Arboriculture—The Government, through the Geological Survey Department have distributed a quantity of seeds to the various Domain Boards in the colony, among which are abies Douglaai and Menziesi, cupressns macrocarpa and Lawsoniana, pinus Benthamiana, contorts, insignia, Lambortiana, murioata, ponderosa, Sabiniana, Torreyana, and tuborculator, as well as sequoia gigantea and sempervirens. Some of the Boards are quite at a loss as to how they should grow tUem, and would have preferred that the seeds should have been first planted in the principal domains in the colony, and the young tress distributed to the various local bodies.

A Curiosity. The curious travelling stones or Australia are paralleled in Nevada (writes the “ Geelong Advertiser”). They are described as almost perfectly round, and about as large as a walnut. When distributed about on the floor, table, or other level surface, within two or three feet of each other, they immediately begin travelling towards a common centre, and there lie huddled up in a bunch, like a lot of eggs in a nest. A single stone, removed to a distance of three and a half feet, upon being released returns to the heap, but if taken away four or five feet remains motionless. They are composed of magnetic iron ore. Rangioba Horse Parade.—The annual entire horse parade will be held in the Association Paddock on Tuesday, September 21st. All horses must be on the ground at half-past ten o’clock. Papanui Presbyterian Church.—The annual tea meeting in connection with the above church will take place in the district schoolroom on Thursday evening next, at a quarter to 7. For the convenience of Christchurch visitors a tram car will leave Papanui at half-past 10 for Christchurch. Atonsidb School Library.—A.n entertainment on behalf of the Avonside school library will be given in the church schoolroom on Thursday evening, September 16th, at 8 o’clock. Kaiapoi Wesleyan Church.—A sacred concert in aid of the organ fund will be given in ICaiapoi Wesleyan Church next Thursday evening, at 8 o’clock.

“James, did you divide your paper of chocolate with your brother?” “Yes, certainly, mamma; I ate the chocolate and gave him the motto—he is so fond of reading, you HOW.”

The man who said that the temperance party was going to rise like a giant refreshed with wine was unforunate in his choice of simile.